Another Birthday....

Today is Nana Theresas 86th Birthday.......Last year we had a party here for her 85th. Wow what a differnce a year makes or even two weeks for that matter. Last sundays visit to see her brought on lots of emotion. She goes down hill every time we go back. She did know that her b-day was coming up, even knew the date. She did however think it was her 93rd. Now nana don't rush it.......She could tell we were not all there on Sunday. She sees us a a group of four and knew someone was missing b/c there were only three. We told her Michael was painting the family room. She asked about the deck. Funny she remembers we still have no deck just a set of stairs. She offered five years ago to buy it for us....she is so sweet. She said "use my buryial money" ok nana I 'll be right on that. AHHH NOOO!!! She said that "Stephies sister has a birthday coming up too"....my half sister Alycia who she does not remember her name is on the 17th of Feb. she bypassed mine on the 3rd. I asked her whos was the day before hers and she said like a politicial running for public office "many peoples" lol .....Good save nana....I said the hockey boys. She refers to Stephen as the hockey boy and Ryan as the little one. She forgets the names sometimes and with her son, granson and great grandson all with the name Stephen we have labels so she knows who we mean when we say that name...lol ...She asked how Mothers Day was a few weeks back, meaning Christmas. She refers and thinks all the holidays are Mothers Day. Her Paula passed away on that day (her daughter, my mother, Paula was making a statement that day, no I am not being mean just honest)....I guess she is fixated with all holidays being that one b/c of her loss. In the past we would bring her Jelly Belly Beans only kind she would eat, cookies, canolies and chocolates. She looked forward to the treats and loved when my bag of goodies crincked with sound. These days she refuses to eat anything and has no apitite at all. Seven years ago when entering the home she was about a size 8 or 10.....In one year she went to a heafty plus size of 22/24. Yes Nana T the slim never bigger than a 6 or 8 on a bad year ate and ate all that she could find. She is now looking very weak and frail and lost a ton of lbs from not eating. She still insists that she has "thunder thighs" lol She says "Stephie I always had beautiful legs and look at these tree trunks now" ////Up until last year she was the Belle of the Home......She was known for her perfect put together hair and nails as well as her pearls and mathching nice clothes. Now she is what we Itailians call "SCHADTHA"////Messsy and dishevled....She just gave up and does'nt care anymore. It is sad. Before Thanksgiving her great nephew visited and gave her a twenty for a haircut. She claims that $18.00 is far to expensive to pay for a haircut...Yeah in 1940 it was but thses days that is a really good deal. So she took his twenty , not that I could not give her one myself, no she can not bring herself to pay. She got a nice style and was lookin good for a bit.......She cracks us up sometimes when she says who do I have to impress...like the men here can see...lol ......Michael has to do an errond after work towards the city and will stop by to say hello. She always knows his name and says I am Michaels wife...Not Stephie Michaels wife....Thanks Nana.....lol She may not even recall that we saw her recently. She will tell him noone comes to see her these days. I know he will make it a point to tell her we were just there but is it any use to waste words. I guess you just have to deal with this decline as it comes. She still has some good days and is funny as all heck. I like those days and hope to have many more. So to Nana T....the lady who gave me my CATHOLIC EMERGENCY CARD at ten, whoyelledin the store "Stephie what size training bra do you want at 11, with Normie by my side snickering with laughter, and the women whos advice was always BE A GOOD GIRL......Happy Birthday Nana Theresa...YOU raise a good girl........

Happy Birthday to our first born......

On January 30th 14 years ago Michael and I were blessed with our first son Stephen. He has brought us many years of love and happiness. He has since grown to be a very tall and handson young man. I have been told by others that he is respectful, considerate, intelligent, and an honest boy. It gives me great pleasure to hear these things. I am filled with pride to be his mother. I want to wish him an awesome birthday! Happy 14th Birthday Stephen! We love you very much...xoxoxo

Tag .....I'm IT!

Ok now like Normie I could go on and on and ON with quircky things about me......Here goes...
The #1.........I am obsessed with my TEETH! I pre-rinse, brush, floss 3 x's post rinse...re-brush then floride rinse one last time. That is twice a day. As for the other 2x's I brush: I just brush, floss and rinse. It drives Michael and the kids insain......Then I will randomly floss during the day and I carry around the finger brushers and mouth spray as well as a travel toothbrush and small paste. Also in the car and my bag are flosses.

#2....I have to fix things that are not centered or streight. Everything has its place and a place for everything. I am anal and I admit it.....I have to keep things new and clean all the time. Once last week we had workers here and I cleaned the bathroom at least 4 times that day then again when they left AGAIN......Even in work I am a cleanaholic ...they all know this.....

#3....I spell something aweful (as you have seen) It does not bother me ...you would think it would but it does not. I think it bothers others more b/c they know I have some inteligence and do not make the extra effort to look twice and double ck. Half the time if I do take a look I may still spell the word incorrectly.

#4....I AM A GERMAPOBE! I have to use antibacterical soap/spray/cleaner/hand lotion ect...I love to kill germs......

#5....I have to readjust myself like 4 - 6 times before I get comfortable in bed. I am so sure it drives Michael CRAZY> Not so much these days b/c of the wonderful recomendation from Jim and Norma to get the memory foam mattress. We are on our 5 th night with it and it is so wonderful. I still have to toss and turn to get comfortable but the motionless efeect helps not bounce M........

#6....I can not have not a bit of light at night. I have to pull out all the sensor night lights or close the hall bathroom door. I have to cover the little light on the phone and the clock radio has to have something covering it. I also have to ck like 4 times that the time is set for wake up. I set it in the morning but ck before I brush teeth, then again. I will get comfortable then ck again. Just to be safe...Yup OCD! I do not find this needs medical attention it does not bother me in any way it is just a quircky thing I have. Same things with the doors and locks and alarm.......I gues that makes 6 I could go on but I do not want you to see my in a crazier light than you already do....LOL LOL LOL ..............

The party went well....

What a hoot......the 7 gals doubled ...yes 14 was the final count.....By the way it was her 75th b-day. They had so much positive energy! I loved them........The party girls daughter had the party for her and said her limit was 10 friends well she brought more than that. Kind of like the tables were turned and the daughter was like MOM I said ten is your limit...lol lol lol There were so many personalities to deal with and they were so funny when I did my "stuff"//// I was so happy to be their party leaded. They even asked if I could go to lunch with them...lol I had to stay and build more bears. It was so nice to be asked. I was told they were asked not to come back to a resturant b/c they were so loud once. Wow! These girls really know how to party.....As I was getting to know them I had the notion of who they would be when "we" grow older. I could relate to who was who in the croud of gals I know. At one point I asked if they go on any day trips...LOL LOL Well they have been on more than just day trips....China, Japan, Iceland and Indonisia to name a few....HELLO! I mean maybe a play or movie....HELLO! Three out of the 14 had their spouses still. Funny those were the 3 that were not over the top and very refined,,,lol See what age and no husband will do to ya they said lol Ruth said "you get to let it all hang out and she mean Hang b/c that is what happens at that age it all HANGS" lol lol I was so happy to hear that they had a ton of fun and barrels of fluff LOL ..........Just wanted to fill you all in on the BABW party ....See you don't have to be a kid to have FUN!.........Bear Huggin' and Lovin'

I just had to share this one.....

Bumper sticker of the year: "If you can read this, thank a teacher and since it's in English, thank a soldier"

I think this would make a great one........Agree? I am sure you will. I am not one for bumper stickers but it is clever.

The year I was born......

All the info in reg print does not matter, just the BOLD faced words.... I have just realized why I am such a Disney fanatic.......WDW and I were born the same year........I have visited WDW 13 times in 35 years. The first visit I made was in 1989 the year I was a senior at PJH! Yes folks I was NEVER taken there as a child and have the need to make up for this tragic loss. I voed with my husband who has many childhood memories of the family vacations in Disney to have our children get the DISNEY vacation fun! So out of the 13 times at Disney 12 of them were with Michael and the boys. Our first time there was when Stephen was 3 and Ryan was 6 mnths. Some may say that is a waste for them but the fun and memories for Michael and I are still as fresh as the day we flet the Florida sun. We are not at all ones to spoil our kids and we always go on a budget. We only stayed in the park once b/c of his cousins wedding. The other times we get grreat deals with hotels or houses off property that make the trip a money friendly time. Last year on our trip a cast member (employee of Disney as they call them) asked us if this was our first trip to the park....I WAS SO PROUD to say NO our 13th........He said oh you are a Floridian ...oh no a Bostonian.........yes a Bostonian that would leave Boston in the blink of an eye and MOVE to Celebration, Harmony, or Reunion Florida in a heartbeat....So the wonderful year of 1971 the happiest place on EARTH was open and Stephie came into the world.......



In 1971 (the year you were born)
Richard Nixon is president of the USCharles Manson and 3 of his followers are convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murderAn earthquake in California's San Fernando Valley kills 64 peopleNew York Times begins publication of classified Pentagon papers on US involvement in VietnamThe $70 million Kennedy Center opens in Washington, DCA four day revolt at New York's Attica state prison ends after being stormed by 1000 state troopersA new stock-market index called the Nasdaq debuts DISNEY WORLD OPENS
Intel releases world's first microprocessor, the 4004Ray Tomlinson sends the first e-mailLibertarian party established in USAKid Rock, Denise Richards, Sean Astin, Winona Ryder, and Ricky Martin are bornPittsburgh Pirates win the World SeriesBaltimore Colts win Superbowl VMontreal Canadiens win the Stanley CupThe Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is publishedThe Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour premeires on television"Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel wins Grammy for song of the yearAll in the Family premieres

It really didn't amount to anything..YIPPIE

I spent most of the night tossing and turning AND praying that the white stuff stay up in the sky. I looked out Ryans window at least four times during the night. It maybe had a small coat of white but that was it. At the 5:05 am up for the day viewing I saw black pavement and danced a jig of yet another bullet dodged. As I woke Stephen up at 5:20 he said "is there school?" OH YEAH there sure is, no 1 hour delay nothing. As I sitt here and type I can hear cars going by at a regular speed so I am sure that icy roads are not a factor. I have a 10:30am party to do at work today for a 5 year old boy and his friends. I recall last year that when there was an early moring party and a flake was on the ground it would get reschd., I really don't think this will be todays case (I hope) ...........Next week I have a party for seven 70 year olds...Yes folks you heard me....7 0! I was asked by the 51 year old daugher not to have them sit on floor in a circle. LOL Now that would just be mean. I have a problem at BABW not having enough seating for these gals when they are making their bears. I was even thinking of taking in some of our folding chairs from home....I think we have 3 that can go, the other 1 has a pretty chair cover and serves as the computer chair here at the kitchen dest I type at daily. Can you just picture me walking in the mall with 3 folding chairs but worse trying at 2:30 when the mall is bustling taking them back out......What is she doing with folding chairs....lol .......Off I am to get ready for the day. Hope your day is a great one. Try not to feel too bad about no white stuff. I am ! LOL LOL See ya and God Bless!

Hello out there.....

Hello to all .....not much to report or post about just a friendly Thursday morning hello. Keeping it light and sweet. Stay warm and bundel up the cold is nasty out there. Make a cup of hot cocoa, tea or mud brew and warm your bones up. Enjoy you day!!!!! STAY WARM!

The LOOOONG Weekend!

I love 3 day weekends. Something about not having to get things in order on Sunday night for the week that makes it so nice. We had the chance to go for really inexpensive $ to a weekend at the timeshare MIL & FIL got for the kids as this years Christmas gift. (every other year is a family vacation or a gift year, this year was a gift year, how nice are they?) We have lots to do this weekend and just could not blow off to N Conway. Ugh ! Well a little ugh and a little sigh of relief. I am sure there is some white stuff up there and the less white stuff I see the better. My mental health has been wonderful due to the great winter we have been having. LOL ! Then there is the packing and shopping for food. Sometimes I think (like Normie) it is a bit of a hassel to go away. If it were a quick drive to Florida then I would have no quames about it but not to snow country lol......I know Karen and her family as well as Drew and all you other freaky winter lovers beg to differ. Since they bought the time share (a week in Oct. that can be transfered to other times and locations w/ a 4 year rotation b/c there are 4 familes involved) we get calls to go for the $89. weekend special. Not per night, per weekend. Where can you go for that price? This weekend we will be home here in the @ 50* weather loving the fact that it feels more like the end of March than the beg. og Jan. ...AND NO SUNDAY WE ARE NOT GETTING A LOT OF SNOW>>>>>>>TOO WARM TO STICK and make a difference...Sorry to burst all the winter lovers bubbles.......; P .............Remember the winter @ 5 or so years ago that we only got 1/2 " of snow the entire season? LOVED IT!

The feeling of smooth......

I have been using this homemade goats milk soap for about a month now and my face is so soft and supple. A neighbor near us whom I just reacently befriended even though our boys have had a friendship in school for many years. She is an "off the boat" Greek women and loves the Italian that I have to offer to our conversations because there seem to be a few simalarities between the two cultures. In her basment she makes beauty products from natural oils and milks and sell them at craft fairs. She sells them so cheep too. I have been having Stephen (14 as of Jan 30th) use the soap to help with the teen oils that he has on his face in the shower and it has made a great differnce on him too. Ann at one time was a nurse in a dermatologists office and has stopped working for the past 5 years to raise 4 boys all of which have the best skin for teens and pre-teens. I am sure her basement brews and olive oil diet contribute to that. She also made a small bottel of a spary oil (smells nasty) to put on your hands at night and then keep on a pair of silk gloves(5.00 at Bed Bat & Beyond). I can not sleep with anything on my hands or feet so I do it about an hour or two before bed while watching TV or reading. I was told by 4 people that my hands were so so soft. So to you Miss Greek ANN goddess of oil...thanks for the basement brews.........here is her web site..... www.annssoaps.net PH# 978-777-0324 The Goats milk soap 4oz and O OIl and Lavender spray the two best products...Tell her Stephie sent you ....lol

Tag I'm it..........Paige I did it! lol

Here goes...A- Available or Taken? TakenB- Best Friend?boy=Michael girl= Normie Cake or Pie? CakeD- Drink of Choice? Pelgrion water from Italy with Lime E- Essential item you use everyday? toothbrush and deodorantF- Favorite Color? purple/lilacG- Gummy Bears or Worms? neitherH- Hometown? Eastie BabyI Indulgence? ChocolatesweetsJ- January or February? February K- Kids and Names? Stephen and Ryan L- Life is incomplete without?Michael, my kids & God M- Marriage Date? April 26, 1992N- Number of Siblings: 1 half sister O- Oranges or apples? apples in the fall; oranges anytimeP- Phobias or fears? Bees/driving in the snow/small spaces Q- Favorite quote? Bear huggin and lovin R- Reason to Smile? my theeth are the bomb...best set of choopers S- Season? Spring; new beginningsT- Tag 3 or 4 people? Normie,Karen, Dawn, and DrewU- Unknown fact about me? I want to own a Sk8 clothing store so my boys and I can work there V- Vegetable you don't like? OckraW- Worst Habit? biting my nails when I'm really stressedX- X-rays? ankle Y- Your favorite food? so many to picksweet/Italian Z- Zodiac: Aquarius (sp) I am a true water sign....Friendly and easy going.....

How Stephie came about.....

All my life I never liked when I was called STEPH..It is ok to write it to keep it short but to say it I am not too keen on it........I like Stephanie.......There was one person who started Stephie a long time ago when I was maybe 3 was my Papa Stephen. The called him Stevie so it was right for him to call me Stephie. When he passed away when I was 10 it killed to hear it from anyone but Nana T. She still to this day says "OH STEPHIE" and Norma imatates it so well. Time went on and Norma (Normie) and BN (Big Norma, who is very little mind you but the older of the pair) called me Stephie without any hesitation from me because it is like a term of endearment from them. I now very much like it in the form of how it is used today. Jim, Normas husband suggested my "comp" name be Stephie as in Stephie Says....At first I was Mom who builds bears but the Stephie Says was just so appropriate. I never hear it from Michael and would find it weird if I did. Just like to call him MIKE is so Carol Brady. He is a Michael and will always be just like I am a STEPHIE!

$3.00 ....not worth it.......

Today was our 6 month dentist visit. The boys and I are on the same days and Michael is off on his own. At one time it was a family trip but he messed up about a year ago and is off our rotation. Michael has been with this practice since he was 2. (not one for change) I really like the hygenists but dislike the new dentist that took over for the ailing one from M's childhood. I have been seein them for 17 years now and Love having the same cleaner all the time. We still head down south even though there are a handfull of really good ones up here. It is all what you are used too. We never have dental issues due to the fact I am a brushing vigalanty when it comes to all of us. So seeing the dentist is for about 1 min and he says lookin good again...then goes on his way. We leave the rest to Diane, an experienced women of about 25 years behind the same chair. Since I was heading south and about 3 miles from Logan Airport I offered a ride to my co-worker/friend who is heading to Florida today on buisness. Bright and early we get her, chat on the way and end up at Ternl. C before you know it. A quick goodbye since the Troopas are all over the place despite it is 750am. As I am exiting the airport I read the sign "left lane RT 1A" so I stay in the LEFT lane to get to the highway I just came off of. (Now mind you when I was 17 -20 I drove a shuttle bus from an off site parking lot to & from the airport, knew it like the back of my hand) Not now it is all refigured and a MESS! SO the left lane that I think is the correct way takes my to a TOLL BOOTH to go into the city....Panic sets in I want to back up, can't do that...more Troopas.......OH GOD WHAT DO I DO....You may be saying, "just go through the goshdarn tunnel and turn around what is the big deal?" WELL THE BIG DEAL IS IT COST $3.00 TO GO THROUGH THE TUNNEL> I DON'T HAVE A COLD RED CENT ON ME! Not more than a quarter and a penny. My sons are frozen in fair b/c they see my panic set in. I get to the tollbooth and in hyper talk with lack of breath from hyperventalating tell this nice in the quiet box women "I don't know what happen I read the sign I need to go to Rt 1 A I read what it said I did it right how did this happen?" She is like calm down just go through here get off at exit 25 turn around and take rt 1 a after you get to South Boston. "BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTND I HAVE NO MONEY!!!!!!!!!! WHAT AM I GONNA DO?????? I DID NOT MEAN TO GET IN THIS LANE I DONT HAVE MONEY JUST A DEBIT CARD!!!!!! CAN I BACK UP!" NO please do not do that you NEED to calm down.....Is her helpful responce. I am like what do I do if I have no money!! She looks into the car (now the lane is filling up and cars behind me start to beep) She says nobody in the car has anymoney? No they are my sons and carry no money. She picks up the walkie talkie thing OH NO she is reporting me what am I gonna tell Michael...No I am about to cry but continue with a little unappropriate laugh b/c I laugh instead of cry out of a fear I guess. So Ryan in the back seat says are you laughing b/c you are fooling her. NO I WOULD NOT FOOL WITH TIS WOMEN! I REALLY HAVE NO MONEY ON ME! So she looks back out and says my supervisor says you can write a cheak ........Really for THREE DOLLARS>...Yes to the whatever MTI or something...Then I write 1/6/06 she hands it back to me and says change it to 07 and put you initials.....OH MY GOODNESS what else will go wrong. Now the line is really long......SO I thanks her from the bottom of my heart and drive through the long tunnel. I get to South Boston and now panic again b/c I can not find the sign that she told me about. Ry looks out the window and says take a right...What Ryan how do you know....He looks to the left and sees the building his Aunt works in & remembers going there via the tunnel to get something at her office one day when he was with her and I was working. Really mom trust me I have been here before...Take a right.......so I go that way not trusting this boys insticnt and what do ya know...a tunnel heading back North....SIGH>>>>>I stay in the middle in fear of taking yet another incorrect road. I see Rt 1 A North and sigh a big sigh of relief b/c I am now on a road I know. I was almost 3 miles from this road in deep fear b/c it is THE CITY! I DO NOT LIKE TO DRIVE IN THE CITY! of Boston that is......So I just don't think $3.00 was worth a tunnel ride in a circle to get out of the airport. I can't wait to tell Jenn this story when she gets back. Knowing her I may get a Flavored Water from all this feeling guilty that she had me spend $3.00 to get out of the airport.............lol lol lol
Yes it is yet another crazy Stephie moment in the life and times of ME!

Early to bed.....

Early to bed, early to rise makes one healthy, wealthy and wise........Ok I am going to bed early tonight to get up for another early truck unloading with my pal Amy at BABW! Even though it is work it is like going to the gym to get a workout. I like the extra activity it puts in my day while getting paid to do it. At 500am the world is so peaceful and quiet. I drive along listening to my soothing music and have time to reflect and not be in a rat race rush. I wish every day the drive to work was this serine. Good night to all and sweet dreams to you. Hope the night brings a fresh new start to a brand new day................Yawn,,,,,,,so sleepy.........

What a view!

As I look out the slider and look at the sun rise I can't help but feel the view looks like a spring morning. The way the sun hits the field where Chestnut grazes looks so peacful and serine. A new little wood building was built this week and it looks very rustic. I wish I could share the view but am still in the 80's with the techno thing. I hope when I head out for the drive to school and work the feel of weather will be a warm as it looks. Have a wonderful day filled with "back to regular" things. Stay warm and remember @13 weeks 'till Easter!

I hear birds.....It not only looks like spring, it sounds like it too.